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ICT
Engineering Simulation and Its Application for the
Offshore Oil and Gas Industry
a report by
Ahmad H Haidari
Global Director, Process, Energy and Power Industry Divisions, ANSYS, Inc.
The oil and gas industry today is driven by business viability, not just Engineering simulation can be used to study either global behaviour or
consumer demand. The sector relies on technology to drive innovation, local and 3D effects. This article focuses on two classes of engineering
help minimise cost, optimise operations, improve reliability and, to a large analysis and design tools. Traditionally, structural mechanical tools are
extent, harness these resources in ways that were not even imaginable a referred to as FEA and fluid dynamics software is called CFD. However, as
few years ago. Over the last decade, advances in offshore drilling, floating finite element codes can model fluid mechanics and CFD codes can couple
platforms, horizontal drilling and other technologies have made it possible with structural and other engineering physics and disciplines, the suite of
to produce oil from sources in deeper water and harsher environments technology is often called computer-aided engineering (CAE) or
and at the same time improve any environmental impact and reduce the engineering simulation. Target problems include static or dynamic
drilling footprint. Technology development will continue to determine structural analysis (both linear and non-linear). They may involve laminar
business viability for many oil and gas projects in even deeper waters, or turbulent flow with or without heat and mass transfer and reaction. A
smaller oil reserves and subsea installations. Computational engineering specific problem may include any one or any combination of the desired
simulation software is playing an increasingly critical role, enabling virtual phenomena. For example, it is possible to simulate blade efficiency of a
prototyping and the capture of new knowledge about the detailed gas compressor or study the complex motion and the resulting structural
workings of the oil and gas industry. For example, consider the complexity response and failure modes of an offshore riser subjected to vortex-
and cost of drilling in ultradeep waters. Using engineering simulation, it is induced motion (VIM). Figure 1 illustrates typical results from 3D
possible to evaluate the design and performance of drill bits so drilling can engineering simulation.
be carried out with little or no disruption. Such evaluations can also
maximise drilling speed. Companies are now routinely applying Numerous models and solution techniques have been developed over the
computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and structural mechanics (finite years for a wide variety of engineering design and analysis problems.
element analysis [FEA]) to a broad range of oil and gas processes and Specific to the oil and gas industries, problems include the effect of
machinery. This article explains the science behind advances in multiple phases, particulate motion, free surface flows, rock fractionation
engineering simulation technology. It highlights recent trends in applying and near-well modelling, erosion and fluid structure interaction. Resulting
these software tools to production, transport and processing of offshore simulation provides a detailed map of critical parameters for example fluid
and subsea oil and gas. velocities, pressures, particle concentrations, temperatures, forces,
heat/mass fluxes and piping and structural support. Once simulated, the
Background to Engineering Simulation Technology results parameters can be displayed in different formats, including colour-
3D engineering simulation software programs are science-based coded graphics, which help provide insight into physical mechanisms
technologies that complement conventional physical testing and affecting the operation of a particular device. As part of an analysis,
prototyping. Engineering simulation methods solve the fundamental engineers can easily alter model geometry, boundary conditions or
mathematical equations related to fluid mechanics, structural material properties to determine the effects on the system under study.
mechanics, electromagnetics, acoustics and chemical reactions. The Consequently, engineering simulation tools are well suited for conducting
technology is applied to studies of mass, momentum and heat transfer, parametric studies, making it possible to evaluate far more design
and analysis of stress, fracture, vibration, thermal, flow distribution, alternatives than the build-and-test method, thereby allowing for faster
erosion, electro-magnetic, low- and high-frequency signal processing, performance optimisation and significant reduction of design cycle time.
multiphase and rock mechanics, etc. These software programs are It is possible to perform a numerical experiment, look for cause and effects
relatively easy to use, yet the underlying technology is comprehensive and perform what-if studies. Typical steps in performing engineering
and often well validated. simulations include:
generating or importing geometry details from a computer-aided
Ahmad H Haidari is Global Director of the Process,
Energy and Power Industry Divisions at ANSYS, Inc. His
design (CAD) package of the area of interest;
remit is to ensure that the company’s full portfolio of
splitting the domain to be analysed into small volumes or elements
engineering simulation software provides appropriate
(control volume or mesh);
capabilities to meet the modelling requirements of these
industry divisions. He has over 17 years of experience in
assigning material and proprieties (densities, conductivity, yield
the application of engineering simulation and modelling
stress, etc.);
technology to address industrial process equipment
design, equipment troubleshooting, analysis and scale-
selecting appropriate physics (fluid flow, thermal, vibration, etc.) –
up. Dr Haidari received his PhD from Lehigh University in the US and has presented and depending on problem of interest, an appropriate set of
written about modelling processes and energy equipment.
mathematical equations is solved, e.g. mass continuity, energy, etc.;
E:
Ahmad.Haidari@ansys.com
assign appropriate boundary conditions, e.g. mass flow rate, load,
fatigue cycle, etc.;
© TOUCH BRIEFINGS 2009
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